Odsal Stadium will be transformed into a major concert venue, bringing some of the biggest names in music to the Bradford Bulls’ historic home.

The Super League outfit is in talks with high-profile bands and solo artists about performing at the ground, with the first three-day concert planned for May bank holiday weekend next year.

A stage will be built at the away end of the pitch, with capacity set at 25,000, as part of the club’s plans to redevelop the stadium over the next three years.

Bulls’ general manager Ryan Whitcut said: “We’re trying to make increasing use of the stadium, which is a vast bowl that lends itself perfectly to hosting pop concerts.

“We’re looking at the big names who have previously gone to Leeds or Manchester coming here to Bradford and performing as part of their UK tours. We’re still negotiating with the agents and management of the artists, but what I can say is that they will be big names who have never been to Bradford before.”

Since the club was taken over by Bradford restaurateur and businessman Omar Khan in September, strides have been made to open the stadium on non-match days.

The Trevor Foster Bar is open seven days a week and other events are now being held, with a new club shop open from tomorrow in the Coral Stand.

Mr Whitcut said: “For the initial gigs we have planned there will be a capacity of 25,000 and as we go into 2014, we’re looking at increasing that capacity.”

Mr Whitcut said improvements to the stadium’s access would need to be made. Mr Khan said he hoped concerts and other events planned at Odsal would bring “Bullmania” back to the ground.

Talks have also been held over potentially bringing speedway back to the stadium but those remain at an early stage. – The stadium once held a world-record rugby crowd when 102,569 fans watched a Challenge Cup final replay between Halifax and Warrington in 1954.